As BP works at the Rig, Why not line up emptly oil tankers along

[OHdem10]

the spill and actually 'suck up" the oil on the water?
Yes there would be water in the oil but they have the means
of separating the oil and water. This would fascilitate
clean-up and salvage oil. It seems many actions should be
carried out at once.

I read a post on thise site and heard a report last week
on MSNBC: Few years back Saudi Arabia had a horrific
oil spill. They lined up tankers and drained the oil
from the sea into the tanker. Separated-oil from water.
They clean up the mess and salvaged over 90% of the lost
oil.

This seems like common sense to me.

BP could focus on the Rig while others cleaned the spill???

[MyNameGoesHere]

1. Oh come on, it's easier to throw your hands up and say

"there is nothing we can possibly do other than what we have done in the past" "Obama can't put his finger in it you know" "You shouldn't get mad because you let them do (insert anything crazy here)"

[dgibby]

3. OMG!

You owe me a new monitor. I'll never get the coffee off of this one 'cause the mess is already made and BP's not here to clean it up, and they Govt can't help, nor should it, because then it might mean that somebody will win a lawsuit against them, and besides, we're doomed, doomed, I tells ya, doomed. Oh noes!!!11's11's!!!:evilgrin: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[bdamomma]

2. for some strange reason this is the logical thing to do if it

worked for Saudi Arabia what the hell is wrong with us? just sickening after a month nothing is being done.

[eleny]

4. According to things I've read and heard those tankers are sitting full

While the oil companies are waiting for prices to rise for better profits.

[Vincardog]

8. Bingo those tankers are sitting full waiting for prices to rise for better profits.

[dgibby]

5. Why not?

Because it's too logical, and will actually work. We couldn't have that,now, could we?:sarcasm:

[HughMoran]

6. This has been suggested often too

I'm not sure why they aren't using these tankers as skimmers :shrug:

[Javaman]

7. Because the oil is emulsified. It's not like a surface leak or a tanker running aground. nt

[PVnRT]

9. Not near enough volume available

That's the biggest problem. The number of ships you would need to suck it all up would be ridiculous, and there aren't enough empty fuel oil tanks in the U.S. to dump it into. Not to mention that the saltwater would corrode the inside of the ships and tanks within a month or two, rendering them useless.

Separation at the point of suction would work, but, again, there's just not enough space to do it well. You might be able to get 10% of it, or so, but that's it.

[Individualist]

10. The CEO of Shell Oil (among others) has also suggested this

Bring in tankers to suction the oil and water, then send it to refineries to separate the oil from the water.